1 to equalize

2 to level the score

3 to pull back the advantage

1 ornamental thumb ring (originally a ring, often made from jade, worn by archers in ancient times to protect the right thumb when drawing a bowstring)

1 to pull back

2 to regain (one's dignity etc)

3 to recover from (an adverse situation)

4 to turn the tables

1 spanner

2 wrench

3 lever (on a machine)

1 (gun) trigger

1 damaged by groundless slander (idiom)

1 hitching a ride to the sky on the dragon and phoenix (idiom); fig. currying favor with the rich and powerful in the hope of advancement